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Lawyer’s murder probe reveals criminal activities of rogue police officers


Detectives investigating the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani have unearthed a band of rogue officers who have acquired their own guns outside the official police system.

The officers use these illegal firearms to kill people in circumstances where they do not wish to be asked to explain use of lethal force.

Such shootings are then blamed on gangsters, according to an official close to the investigation.

Besides the weapons, the rogue officers have also acquired their own walkie talkies, which they tune into official police frequencies when off-duty to monitor their colleagues.

This way, it is believed, they are able to commit crimes and get away with it because they can monitor the communication and movements of their colleagues on duty.

Mr Kimani’s body was found in a river in Ol-Donyo Sabuk on July 30, together with those of his client, Mr Josephat Mwenda, and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri.

The gang operates around Athi River and Kitengela, but detectives are casting their net wide on suspicion the rogue officers could have committed crimes in other areas.

Corporal Stephen Cheburet Morogo, Senior Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Constable Silvia Wanjiku and Mr Leonard Maina Mwangiare in custody awaiting trial over the deaths.

ROBBERIES AND EXTORTION

It was not immediately clear if the four are also being investigated over robberies and extortion blamed on the rogue officers.

The four officers are stationed at the Athi River Administration Police camp, which has become the centre of investigations as it is believed the victims were detained there before they were killed.

The camp is not a gazetted police station and no suspect should be detained there in the first place.

On Friday, Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet said investigations were progressing well and all the culprits would soon be brought to book.

“We will complete investigations within the time given by the court. We shall also announce if any other suspects are arrested,” he said.

Mr Boinnet also ordered Mavoko MP Patrick Makau to hand himself in connection with the burning of the AP camp on Wednesday. The fire destroyed the cells where the three were held, raising fears that crucial evidence might have been lost.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) is also investigating a complaint against one of the officers in custody. Ipoa wants to establish the circumstances in which the officer shot Mr Mwenda on April 10, last year.